I received this email from a teacher who decided the only way to save public education was to run for mayor. He deserves our support.
“I am a Minneapolis teacher running for Mayor of Minneapolis. I am bright but politically inexperienced. I wouldn’t have dared enter the race except that Minneapolis has Ranked Choice Voting and 7 (at least) other candidates vying for the office, and none are incumbent. Still, I entered the race reluctantly, and only because at that time no one else who was running was much interested in what’s happening with public education.
Before I entered the race I attended a school board meeting where the board decided to sell a vacant Minneapolis school building to a charter school. Our class sizes in public schools in that part of the city are in the mid to upper thirties. I know that many families are either moving to the suburbs or switching to private schools because of class size.
After that vote I decided to enter the race. With the surge in charter schools, high class sizes, high stakes testing, over-evaluation of teachers, the deprofessionalization of teaching through TFA, and union-busting efforts nationwide, I am terribly concerned about the future of public education.
The Minneapolis teachers’ union (MFT 59) is not endorsing anyone, but is discussing a forum or a candidate survey including questions to see where candidates stand on TFA, class size, high stakes testing, teacher evaluations, and site based management of schools, etc.
I would like to win this mayoral race to ensure that public education has a strong advocate and voice in the mayor’s office. An equally strong goal of my campaign is to build a coalition of like-minded people who will work to get information out to voters regarding the positions on education taken by school board members, city council members, and candidates for those and other public offices.
I am writing to ask for your help. We have an immediate need for cash. You could help us by writing about what is happening in Minneapolis and if you feel the spirit move, endorse me and ask those who follow you to go to my website and donate. Your help could make this a competitive race.
I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about my candidacy. If you want to know a little more about me, you can check me out on FB: Jim Thomas for Mayor of Minneapolis, or visit my web page: http://www.jimthomasformayor.com. I’d be happy to give you the names and contact information of several teachers who support me, as well.
Thanks for your time, Diane.
Sincerely,
Jim Thomas
Minneapolis Public School Teacher”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I have known educators who, when ascending to “loftier” positions, suddenly lose their “salt of the earth” ethos. It tends to happen when teachers become administrators, though I can’t say I’ve personally known one who has ascended to public office. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when and if he gets elected. My theory is that there’s something inherent in the position itself, any position of authority in education, that has a corruptive force on an otherwise well-meaning educator, kind of like those in Tolkien who would seek to use the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron to do good:
Frodo: “Take it Gandalf! Take it!”
Gandalf: “No Frodo.”
Frodo: “You must take it!”
Gandalf: “You cannot offer me this ring.”
Frodo: “I’m giving it to you!”
Gandalf: “DON’T tempt me, Frodo! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo, I would use this ring from a desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.”
For more on my Public Education as Middle Earth metaphor (really, it’s quite clever), read: http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/race-to-top-of-barad-dur-sauron-in.html 🙂
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I have long believed that power doesn’t corrupt, it just allows corruption to surface if it is already there.
As a long-time fan of Tolkien, I have bookmarked your blog for later reading. I think you are on to something.
I see Sauron as someone in the reformer camp, maybe Bill Gates or the Broads/Waltons. I was tempted to say Arne Duncan, but I see him as more of a lackey, you know, like Saruman. Although maybe Arne is Smeagol/Gollum, blindly following the trail of the ring. . .
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Hmmm… Sort of like Agent Cooper descending into the Black Lodge: No inherent evil per so, but if we face the trials with imperfect courage, we are corrupted. I like it. Of course, now I’m going to have to do a Twin Peaks themed blog post at some point… LOL I probably shouldn’t do this on someone else’s blog, but please feel free to circulate my stuff if you think ant friends or colleagues might enjoy it.
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oops, I meant per “se”
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Why has MFT 59 decided not to make an endorsement in such an important election?
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Very impt for pub schl advocates on this list and for NPE to support progressive candidates for office. Political discussion is too dominated by the billionaires and their media buys. I’ve read Jim Thomas’s website and like his proposals for smaller classes and against testing, as well as his environmental goals and concern for inequality. I’m sending a donation to his campaign.
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I disagree. All it takes is for a candidate to identify him or herself as “progressive” to lose my vote, and I’m a social liberal, fercryinoutloud. We need to stop labeling and naming things, for one thing, but that said: So-called “Progressivism” has destroyed education in two ways: the first, by putting political correctness over rigor and academic integrity; secondly, by so thoroughly doing the former that the way has been cleared for the NCLB/RttT/CC unholy trinity to roll in with a mandate from who-knows-where and, like Hitler after World War I, seize control. It’s ironic that self-titled “progressives” are so against the regime THEY helped empower.
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Why I am opposed to so-called progressivism, part I: http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
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Why I am opposed to so-called progressivism, part II: http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/do-we-place-those-who-are-different-in.html
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Darn, this was supposed to be a response to irashor…
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Why I am opposed to so-called progressivism, part III: http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-canon-and-other-instruments-of-war.html
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Ugh… this too was supposed to be a response to irashor… Sorry Diane for making a mess. No self-edit/delete feature?
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Andrew, if you wish, I will delete your comment and you can repost where you wish.
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He should be sure to watch Zach Galifianakis (a NC native) and Will Ferrell in “The Campaign” for giggles.
Very proud to see a teacher step up for a run for public office.
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